Half of all men and one-third of all
women in the US will develop cancer during their lifetimes.

Today, millions of people are living with
cancer or have had cancer. The risk of developing many types of cancer can be
reduced by changes in a person’s lifestyle, for example, by staying away from
tobacco, limiting time in the sun, being physically active and healthy eating.

Ok…I could go on and on. There are thousands if not a million
different articles out there about cancer.
Those numbers and blurbs are scary and there are times I just get
overwhelmed with anxiety about that word “cancer” that can make a room go
silent. I pray for families daily that
have found that “cancer” in going to be a word that hovers in their world or
for those who don’t know life without that dark word “cancer”.

Here are a few stories of families that are in my
daily prayers.

vA friend on FB just asked for prayers for her friend who is not
only a wife but a mother of four. She
just found out she has incurable brain cancer.

vAnother friend’s mother has been diagnosed this year with stage
4 Renal Cancer. It has moved into her
bones, lymph nodes and in areas of the brain.
She is a daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, cousin and a
friend.

vA little boy has fought cancer almost his whole life. He is a tough kid and never let cancer get in
his way. As of August 15th
his mommy is proud to say his scans are clear.
They at one point gave him only 4-6% chance of living after his first relapse. But 2 years after his treatment this child is
a SURVIVOR!!

vA little girl that just turned is fighting a hard fight. She was diagnosed at 2 with High Risk Pre-B All.

vA little girl who was diagnosed at the age of 3 with, stage 4
high risk neuroblastoma. She is has been
in remission since 2010!

vAnother little boy has fought a big fight and now is in
remission!!! He had ALL, which is Acute Lymphoblastic
Leukemia.

vA close family friend just found out devastating news. Here is a blurb from her personally.

“He has Stage 4, Metastatic Adenoma Carcinoma of the
Prostate....terminal. All "treatment" is simply to give us a little
more time with him. If could be a few months to a few years. It is very
aggressive and very advanced. It has metastases to his temporal bone, 5 areas
of spine, humorous, sternum, top of both femurs, and multiple areas throughout
his pelvis and sacrum. Treatment is hormone to stop all testosterone...he will
go through a female-type menopause...he will gain weight, loss bone mass and
muscle mass. He will have personality and mood swings, depression; hot
flashes...man boobs, etc.

They will hit the neck and pelvic area with radiation, but,
only radiate other tumors if they create pain for him. We need all your prayers
nonstop. Praying for some quality time together...and as little pain as
possible.....also, praying for mental/emotional strength for those you live
here day to day, that we can grow thick skins and understand that Paul can't
help his attitude and personality towards us, when it gets bad.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is just a few of many stories I
could share with you. My heart breaks
but God is my strength. I have seen
these people and many others in the middle of a “storm” and they lean
completely on God. It is such an
amazing thing to see and witness how God works in all of these people’s
lives. God may not heal and He many not
make things easier but He is at work!!

Here is some scripture I find comforting
and also how God should be in the middle of this.

“I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of Jehovah.”
Psalms 118:17

For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will
heal,
declares theLord, because they have
called you an outcast:
‘It is Zion, for whom no one cares!’Jeremiah
30:17

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son,
that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son intothe world to condemn the world,
but in order that the world might be saved through him.John 3:16-17

"In view of all this, what
can we say?
If God is for us, who can be against us?
Certainly notGod, who did
not even keep back his own Son, but offered him for us all! He gave us his Son-will he not also freelygive us all things? Who will accuse God's chosen people? God himself declares them not
guilty!" Romans 8: 31-33~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Why does God allow cancer?
God hates cancer! Cancer is the result of Satan's power to hurt
people in theworld.
God is ready and able to help us fight. Even if the fight leads us
to death, God promises us that He willreward
us in Heaven for the pain we have endured. We are His Christian soldiers.
Soldiers who fight against Satanand
this evil world.

God takes the evil of cancer and He shows how our
determination through everything we suffer is an example toothers what God can do in our
lives even when the prognoses is bad. God changes the lives of our
friends andfamily when
they see that we will not let go of our faith no matter what happens to us.

God takes what Satan did
to us and shouts to the world that we did nothing wrong. We did not sin
and we are notguilty!
He takes the evil of cancer and makes us an example to others of what you
can do when you have faith inGod.”

God’s
healing may not be immediate. We may be
sick to the point of death before we recover.

An
infirmity may stay with us to

-
demonstrate we serve God with pure motives (Job 1:7-11; 2:4-5)

-
discipline us to righteousness (Hebrews 12:11; 1 Peter 4:1)

-
keep us looking up (Romans 8:23)

-
give us an opportunity to be a witness (Philippians 1:12)

-
show that God’s work does not come by our strength but by the power of the Holy
Spirit (2 Corinthians 12:9)

-
accumulate for us heavenly rewards (2 Corinthians 4:17)

-
allow us to partake in the same sufferings as Christ experienced (Philippians
3:10)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What, then, shall we say in response to these things?If God is for us,who
can be against us?Romans 8:31

And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.Matthew
10:30-31

So do not fear,for I am with you;do not be dismayed, for I am your God.I will strengthenyou and helpyou;I will uphold youwith my righteous right hand.Isaiah 41:10

Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place.
A large crowd followed him, and he
healed all who were ill.Matthew 12:15

He replied,“Because you have so little
faith.
Truly I tell you, if you have faithas small as a mustard
seed,you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’
and it will move.Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Matthew 17:20

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth
agree about anything they ask for,
it will be done for themby my
Father in heaven.Matthew 18:19

This is the confidencewe have in approaching God:
that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.And
if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—
we knowthat
we have what we asked of him.1 John 5:14-15

I
truly believe that God uses this horrible disease and uses this as an
opportunity for growth, faith and for His face to be shown. Please pray for the families that have to
deal daily with this horrible disease.
You don’t have to use names, God is listening and He knows. Here is something that may help guide you
through your prayers.

Things
to pray for…

1.Doctors- Wisdom, strong hands, and patience.

2.Hope and Courage

3.For their fear- may their (the patient, families and friends) be used as
fuel for their fight.

4.Healing

5.God’s Will be done

6.Strength

7.Pain free

8.Their faith is at the battle line.

9.Compassion

10.Mercy

11.Comfort

12.Strength, love and patience for
family and friends

13.God’s love is visible

There is obviously so much more you could and can pray
for but that list can help you get a jump start.Please Pray!God is LISTENING!!